Legal Help Desk

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals today announced a date for oral arguments in Lambda Legal’s lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Indiana.

The Court will hear oral arguments Aug. 26 at 9:30 CT in Chicago.

The case, Baskin v. Bogan, was filed on March 10, 2014, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Shortly thereafter, Lambda Legal filed a motion seeking immediate relief for Niki Quasney, Amy Sandler and their two children ages 3 and 1. Five years ago, Niki was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. In two decisions issued in April and May, the Court ordered the State of Indiana to recognize their out-of-state marriage.

Lambda Legal urged the Court to grant the freedom to marry to all Indiana same-sex couples and respect all out-of-state marriages by striking down Indiana’s marriage ban in its entirety.

On June 25, U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young ruled that Indiana’s discriminatory ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. Two days later, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s emergency motion to stay the freedom to marry for all Hoosiers achieved through Lambda Legal's victories in Baskin v. Bogan, and two other lawsuits. On July 1, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order compelling the State of Indiana to continue to recognize the marriage of Lambda Legal plaintiffs Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney while the case proceeds.